Vacuum cleaner



F eb. 4, 1936. E, EDSTRM 2,0295613 VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 14, 1953 2Sheejzs-Sheet l BY z3 ,7,2 f g3 Feb. 4, 1936. E;I EDSTRM l 2,029,613

' VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a ATTORNEY BY wwwPatented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES VACUUM CLEANER Erik Edstrm,Stockholm, Sweden, assigner to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., acorporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1933, Serial No. `675,679

In Germany December 7, 1932 23 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuumcleaners of the enclosed bag type.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the appearance and easeof manipulation of vacuum cleaners. Another object is to provide asimple but sturdy means for securing an end member or cap to the mainpart of the cleaner casing so that it may be readily removed. Anotherobject of my invention is to so construct the aforesaid securing meansthat it mayv hold a lter member in place within the end member at thesame time that it secures the end member to the casing. A further objectof my invention is to locate the securing means wholly within the casingbut freely accessible from the outside thereof through an opening in theend member. A still further object of my invention is to so constructand arrange the means for securing the end' 20 member in place that itdoes not interfere with deflecting means in the opening for directingthe flow of air upwardly and away from the surface on which the cleaneris supported.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description lconsidered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, of which;

Fig. 1 is a side view, chiefly in cross-section, of a vacuum cleanershowing one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion ofthe device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view on a slightly reduced scale of a portion of thedevice shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a cleaner showinganother embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a sealing member employed in thedevices illustrated in Figs. l to 4;

6 is an end view of the member shown in Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional viewof a portion of a. vacuum cleaner showing stillanother embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8; and yFig. 10 is a side view of a member shown in Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, reference character I0designates the main member of the casing of the cleaner, which is "L`preferably cylindrical and may be made 0f metal or other suitablematerial. Secured to one end of main member I0 is a ring II to which anend member I3 may be clamped by suitablespring clips I2. A flanged ringI4 is adapted to be clamped between ring II and member I3. Secured toring I4 is a dust bag I5 made of cloth or the like which is imperviousto dust but permits the passage therethrough of air. End member I3 isprovided with a central threaded opening or port I 6, into which may bescrewed a coupling member I'I. Member Il is adapted to receive one endof a ilexible hose I8, the other end of which may be connected to anysuitable suction cleaning nozzle, as' is shown at I9. In the arrangementshown, a rigid hollow handle member is interposed between hose I8 andnozzle I9.

A ring 2I is suitably securedl to the other end of main casing memberI0. A ring member 22, preferably made of electrical insulating material,such as bakelite, is secured to ring 2| by means of screws 23. Ring 22is formed with' lugs 24 having apertures therethrough, through whichpass pins 25 for supporting an electric motor 26. Pins 25 may beprovided with coil springs 21 or the like in order that the motor may beresiliently mounted. Mounted on the armature shaft 28 of the motor is acentrifugal fan 29 comprising two rotors. A fan housing 30 is carried byring 22 and comprises a cylindrical portion and a pair of transversewalls. Transverse Wall 3| is ahead of the rst rotor while transversewall 32 is located between the two rotors. Each wall is provided With acentral aperture and the aperture in wall 3l is covered with aperforated plate 33.

A motor shield 34, comprising a cylindrical portion 35 and a transverseportion 36, is secured to the rear side of ring 22 by means of bolts 3lwhich have threaded engagement with lugs 38 formed on the ring 22. 'I'hecylindrical portion of the shield is formed with a groove 39A at thebottom while the transverse portion is formed with a plurality ofopenings 40 therethrough.

Secured to the center of the transverse portion 36 is a threaded bolt4I. Bolt 4I is formed with two spaced collars 42 and 43 between which islocated a sealing member 44 made of suitably resilient material such asrubber. Sealing member 44 is shown by itself in Figs. 5 and 6. Itcomprises a hub portion 45 which engages bolt 4I between collars 42 and43 and a radially extending portion 46.

Reference character 4l designates a cap, end piece, or end member whichis adapted to be secured to and to form a closure for the motor end ofmain casing member III. The casing as a whole is made up of members lll,|3 and 41. Motor shield 34 is within this casing and hence may be termedan internal member. Member 41 comprises a cylindrical portion 43 whichis integral with an end wall 48. Wall 43 is formed with a centralaperture in which is xed a ring having threads 5| formed on the innerside thereof. Integral with ring 50 is a skirt 82 and laterallyextending arms or transverse members 43 and 54. Arms 53 and 54 extend ina substantially vertical direction. Bars and I3 are also integral withring 50 and skirt 52 and serve to keep large articles out of end member41 and protect the filter hereinafter referred to. 'I'he arms 33 and 54meet to support a bushing 51. Rotatably mounted in bushing 51 is aninternally threaded member 53 which is adapted to engage bolt 4| securedto internal member 34 to thereby secure the end member in place, andwhich is formed with a knurled knob or the like 59. A flange member issecured to the inner end of member 53 in order to prevent axial movementof the member with respect to the bushing 51. A projection 1|, which maybe a rivet, is secured to the inside of cylindrical portion 43 and isadapted to cooperate with groove 39 to insure that end member 41 will beproperly aligned with the rest of the casing so that skirt I2 will be atthe top of the opening through ring 50. An annular packing 12 preventsleakage of air between ring 22 and end member 41.

A filter member 6I is adapted to be placed within end member 41 andcomprises an annular frame i la which serves to support a pair of layersof nlter cloth 32. The layers 62 are folded over the outer side ofmember 8 la and may be secured in place by means of tying a string 33therearound. The center of layers 32 is formed with an aperture in whichis placed an annular flanged member 34. The layers are secured betweenthe nanges of member 34 and one or more washers 35 may be placed betweenthe layers in order to separate them slightly at the center. Asupporting member 86 is secured to bushing 31 and serves to support therear layer of filter cloth 42.

'I'he vacuum cleaner is provided with a pair of runners 31, one on eachside of the casing, which serve to support it on a surface. A handle e33 is secured to the upper part of the casing for carrying purposes.Electric switch 39 and electric contacts 10 are carried by ring 22 andare suitably connected in the circuit for the motor 23.

The operation of the above described device is as follows:

Upon rotation of the fan rotors 23 by the motor 23, air is caused topass in the direction of the arrows. This air picks up dust and passesthrough nozzle I8, handle 2li and hose |3 to within the dust bag I5. Theair passes through the material of the dust bag while the dust is unableto do so and is separated from the air stream and collected in the dustbag. The air passes through the fan and is discharged over and throughthe motor, thereby cooling it, and passes through the apertures 43 inmotor shield 34. The air then passes through the filter member 3|, wherevery fine dust or bacteria or the like which may have passed through thedust bag is separated out. 'Ihe air is finally discharged from thecleaner through the discharge opening or outlet port in ring 43. Theskirt 52 `serves to direct the air upwardly from the surface on whichthe cleaner is supported.

If it is desired to remove end member 41 1u l support the bushing 31.

order to change the filter 6|, or for any other purpose, knurled knob 58on member 33 is grasped and turned in the proper direction to unscrew itfrom bolt 4|. When these two elements are disengaged the end member 41is entirely free from the rest of the cleaner and may be removedtherefrom by drawing it to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Thefilter may then be withdrawn from within the end member 41 and cleanedor replaced by a new one. When the filter has been cleaned or replacedthe end member can be again secured to the rest of the cleaner bysliding cylindrical portion 43 thereof over the cylindrical portion 35of motor shield 34, with projection 1| aligned with groove 39. Thisassures that member 58 will be aligned with bolt 4| and may be engagedtherewith by turning the knurled knob 59 in the proper direction. Thisdraws the end member to the left as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and seats itagainst the resilient packing member 12 located between motor shield 34and ring 22. The provision of sealing member 44 hinders the passage ofair through the opening in the flanged member 34. Inasmuch as the filter3| fits closely within he member 41 substantially all the air disch edis forced to pass through the filter.

Ring 50 is provided with threads 3| so that coupling member I1 may bescrewed thereinto if it is desired to use the cleaner as a blowingdevice. It is apparent that the coupling may be screwed into ring 50without interference from member 58. It will be further apparent thatmember 33 is fulLv within the end member 41 and hence not visible fromthe outside, while it is still freely accessible through the opening inring 50.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, motor shield 34 is provided with aninternally threaded member 13 which carries the sealing member 44. Ring33 is provided with arms 14 which meet to Rotatably mounted in bushing31 is a member 13 which is formed at one end as a. threaded bolt 13while at the other end is a knurled knob 59. Bolt 13 is adapted toengage the internally threaded member 13. A plurality of horizontallyextending and upwardly and outwardly inclined louvers 11 are madeintegral with the vertically extending arms or transverse members 14.These louvers serve to direct the flow of air upwardly through theopening in ring 50 and hence away from the surface on which is supportedthe cleaner unit. 'I'he operation of this modification is the same asthat shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and the end member 41 may be removed fromthe main casing member |3 by unscrewing member 13 from member 13.

The modification shown in Figs. 'I to 10 includes a bayonet jointarrangement for securing the end member 41 to the main casing member.Motor shield 34 is provided with a member 13, which has a passage-way 13therethrough. Passageway 13 has a circular center portion which mergesinto two lateral straight-sided portions 33. The face of member 13within the motor shield is formed with a semi-circular groove 3|extending to both sides of the passage-way 13 and at right angl to thelateral portions 33 thereof. The bushing 31, carried by arms 53 and 34supports a member 32 which is slidably and rotatably mounted therein. Aspindle 33 is secured to member 32 by means of a nut 34. The other endof spindle 33 is provided with a pair of cylindrical projections 3lextending at right angles thereto. The left hand end of bushing 31. asViewed in Fig. 7, is provided with an inwardly extending fiange 86. Aspring 81 abuts against flange 8B and against member 82 and tends tomove member 82 and spindle 83 to the right. A shoulder 88 formed on thespindle 83 limits movement thereof under the influence of spring 81. Asealing member 89 is carried by member 18. When the end member 41 is inplace on the end of main casing member I0, projections 85 on spindle 83are in groove 8|, where they are held by the tendency of spindle 83 tomove to the right under the influence of spring 81. In order to removethe end member 41 from the main casing member, member 82 is grasped andforced inwardly (tothe left, as viewed in Fig. 7) until projections 85are out of groove 8|, whereupon member 82 is turned through 90 degreesuntil projections 85 are in alignment with portions 80 of thepassage-way in member 18. When the projections are so aligned, thespring 81 will move the spindle 83 to the right, thus disengaging thespindle from member 18. End member 41 may then be removed from the maincasing-member I0. When it is desired to replace the end member, theprojections 85 are aligned with portions 80 of the passage-way in member18 and the spindle 83 is moved to the left until the projections liebeyond member 18, whereupon member 82 and spindle 83 are turned throughninety degrees until the projections 85 slip into groove 8i.

Sealing member 89 forces the flanged member 64 against the end ofbushing 51 and thus prevents the passage of air therebetween.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple means for securing the endmember to the main casing member of the vacuum cleaner, which means isadvantageously combined with means for directing the flow of airupwardly through the discharge opening. Also, the securing means islocated within the end member and hence substantially out of sight, andyet freely accessible for manipulation in order to remove or replace theend member.

While I have shown three more or less specific embodiments of myinvention, these are for purposes of illustration only and do not limitthe scope of the invention, which is to be determined by the appendedclaims viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing including a main member and a cap, aninternal member secured to said main member, said cap having an airport, a filter within said casing between said internal member and saidair port, and means internally of said casing and passing through saidfilter and accessible through said port for securing said cap to saidinternal member.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing including a main member and a cap, saidcap having an air port therein, air defiecting means for guiding flow ofair through said port, a filter in said casing, and means internally ofsaid casing and passing through said filter and said air deflect-ingmeans for securing said cap to saidmain member.

3. In a vacum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow o-f air therethrough, a dust separating member in saidcasing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an end memberfor closing one end of said main casing member, said end member beingAformed with an opening for the passage of air therethrough, and

means within said casing for removably securing said end member to saidmain casing member, said means being freely accessible through saidopening.

4. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air therethrough, a dust separating member insaidcasing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an internalmember secured to said casing adjacent to one end thereof, an end memberfor closing said one end of said main casing member, said end memberbeing formed with a central opening for the passage of air therethrough,and means for removably securing said end member to said internal memberwhereby said end member is removably secured to said main casing member,said means being freely accessible through said opening.

5. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adjacentto one end thereof for producing flow of air therethrough, a dustseparating member in said casing adjacent to the other end thereof forremoving dust from air flowing therethrough, a motor shield membersecured to said main casing member adjacent to said one end thereof, anend member for closing said one end of said main casing member, said endmember being formed with a central opening for the passage of airtherethrough, and means for removably securing said end member to saidshield member whereby said end member is removably secured to said maincasing member, said means being freely accessible through said opening.

6. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adjacentto one end thereof' for producing flow of air therethrough, a dustseparating member in said casing adjacent to the other end thereof forremoving dust from air flowing therethrough, a motor shield membersecured to said main casing member adjacent to said one end thereof, anend member for closing said one end of said main casing member, said endmember being formed with a central opening for the passage of airtherethrough, and threaded means for removably securing said end memberto said shield member y whereby said end member is removably secured tosaid main casing member, said threaded means being freely accessiblethrough said opening.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adjacentto one end thereof for producing flow of air therethrough, a dustseparating member in said casing adjacent to the other end thereof forremoving dust from air flowing therethrough, a motor shield membersecured to said main casing member adjacent to said one end thereof, anend member for closing said one end of said main casing member, said endmember being formed with a central opening for the passage of airtherethrough, a transverse member within said end member, and meanscomprising a bayonet joint for removably securing said transverse memberto said shield member whereby said end member is removably secured tosaid main casing member, said means being freely accessible through saidopening.

8. In a Vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adberjournalled in said transverse member and adapted to engage said bolt toremovably secure said end member to said main casing member, saidinternally threaded member being freely accessible through said opening.

9. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adjacentto one end thereof for producing flow of air therethrough, a dustseparating member in said casing adjacent to the other end thereof forremoving dust from air flowing therethrough, a motor shield membersecured to said main casing member adjacent to said one end thereof, anend member for closing said one end of said main casing member, said endmember being formed with ,a central opening for the passage of airtherethrough, a transverse member within said end member, an internallythreaded member secured to said shield member, and a threaded bolt jour-`nalledk in said transverse member and adapted to engage said threadedmember to removably secure said end member to said main casing member,said boit being freely accessible through said opening.

10. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air therethrough, a dust separating member in saidcasing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an internalmember secured to said main casingmember adjacent to one end thereof, anend member for closing said one end of said main casing member, said endmember being formed with a central opening for the passage of airtherethrough, louver members within said end member adjacent to saidopening for directing air flow upwardly and outwardly therethrough, andmeans for removably securing said end member to said internal memberwhereby said end member is removably secured to said mainv casingmember, said means extending beyond said louvers and being freelyaccessible through said opening.

1l. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air therethrough, a dust separating member in said-casing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an internalmember secured to said casing adjacent to one end thereof, an end memberfor closing said one end of said main casing member, said end memberbeing formed with a central opening for the passage of air therethrough,a transverse member within said end member, louver members within saidend member adjacent to said opening for directing air ilow upwardly andoutwardly therethrough, and threaded means for removably securing saidtransverse member to said internal member whereby said end member isremovably secured to said main casing member,

said means extending beyond said louvers and being freely accessiblethrough said opening.

12. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air therethrough, a dust separating member in saidcasing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an internalmember secured to said casing adjacent to one end thereof, an end memberfor closing said one end of said main casing member, said end memberbeing formed with a central opening for the passage of air therethrough,a transverse member within said end member adjacent to said opening,louver members secured to the last mentioned transverse member fordirecting air flow upwardly and outwardly through said opening, andmeans for removably securing said transverse member to said internalmember whereby said end member is removably secured to said main casingmember, said means extending beyond said louvers and being freelyaccessible through said opening.

13. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adjacentto one end thereof for producing flow of air therethrough, a dustseparating member in said casing adjacent to the other end thereof forremoving dust from air flowing through said casing, a. motor shieldmember secured to said main casing member adjacent to said one endthereof, an end member for closing said one end of said main casingmember, said end member being formed with a central opening for the e ofair therethrough, a transverse member within said end member adjacent tosaid opening, louver members secured to said transverse member fordirecting air ilow upwardly and outwardly through said opening, andmeans for removably securing said transverse member to said shieldmember whereby said end member is removably secured to said main casingmember, said means extending beyond said louvers and being freelyaccessible through said opening.

14. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing inf cluding a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air therethrough, a dust separating member in saidcasing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an internalmember secured to said casing adjacent to one end thereof, an end memberfor closing said one end of said main casing member, said end memberbeing formed with a central opening for the e of air therethrough, atransverse member within said end member, a filter member in saidcasing' between said transverse member and said internal member, saidfilter member formed with an opening therethrough, and means forremovably securing said transverse member to said internal memberwhereby said end member is removably secured to said main casing member,said means being freely accessible through the opening in said endmember and extending `through the opening in said filter member.

l5. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air therethrough, a dust separating member in saidcasing for removing dust from air flowing therethrough, an internalmember secured to said casing adjacent to one end thereof, an end memberfor closing said one end of said main casing member, said end memberbeing formed with a central opening for the passage of air therethrough,a transverse member within said end member, a lter member in said casingbetween said transverse member and said internal member, said filtermember being formed with an opening therethrough, means for removablysecuring said transverse member to said internal member whereby said endmember is removably secured to said main casing member, said means beingfreely accessible through the opening in said end member and extendingthrough the opening in saidefilter member, and sealing means forpreventing the passageof air through the opening in said filter member.

16. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a cylindrical maincasing member open at each end, a motor-fan unit in said casing adjacentto one end thereof for producing flow of air therethrough, a dustseparating member in said casing adjacent to the other end thereof forremoving dust from air flowing therethrough, a motor shield membersecured to said main casing member adjacent to said one end thereof, anend member for closing said one end of said main casing member, said endmember being formed with a central opening for the passage of airtherethrough, a transverse member within said end member adjacent tosaid opening, louver members secured to said transverse member fordirecting air flow upwardly and outwardly through said opening, a filtermember in said casing between said transverse member and said motorshield, said filter member formed with an opening therethrough, andmeans for removably securing said transverse member to said motor shieldwhereby said end member is removably secured to said main casing member,said means extending through the opening in said filter member andbeyond said louver members and being freely accessible through theopening in said end member.

17. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing including a main member and a cap,means in said casing for producing flow of air, a shield within saidcasing secured to said main member, said cap having an air port fordischarge of air from said casing, a filter within said casing betweensaid shield and said port, and means internally of said casing andpassing through said filter and accessible through said port forsecuring said cap to said shield.

18. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing including a main member and a cap,means in said casing for producing ow of air, said cap having an airport therein for discharge of air from said casing, vanes for guidingflow of air through said port, and means passing through said vanes forsecuring said cap to said main member.

19. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing including a main member and a cap,means in said casing for producing flow of air, said cap having an airport therein for discharge of air from said casing, air defiecting meansAfor guiding flow of air through said port, a filter in said casing, andmeans internally of said casing and passing through said lter and saidair deecting means and accessiblev through said port for securing saidcap to said main member.

20. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a main member and acap, said cap forming part of the exterior of said casing, means toproduce iiow of air through said casing, said cap having an air porttherein for discharge of air from said casing, and means internally ofsaid casing and accessible through said portfor securing said cap tosaid main member.

21. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing including a main member and acap, means to produce ow of air through said casing, said cap formingpart of the exterior of said casing, a member internally of and securedto said casing, said cap having a port therein for iiow of airtherethrough, and means internally of said casing and accessible throughsaid port for securing said cap to said internal member.

22. In a vacuum cleaner having an elongated casing including a mainmember and an end piece for closing one end of said main member. saidend piece forming part of the exterior of said casing, said end piecehaving an air port therein, a dust separating member in said casing,means to produce ow of air through said casing, said dust separatingmember and said port, and means engaging said end piece and said mainmember within said casing and operable to removably secure said endpiece to said main member, said last mentioned means being freelyaccessible for operation from the outside of said casing.

23. In a vacuum cleaner having an elongated casing including a mainmember and an end piece for closing one end of said main member, saidend piece forming part of the exterior of said casing, said end piecehaving an air port therein, a dust separating member in said casing,means to produce flow of air through said casing, said dust separatingmember and said port, and means located entirely within the spacedefined by the general outline of said casing for removably securingsaid end piece to said main member, said last mentioned means beingfreely accessible from the outside of said casing.

ERIK EDSTRM.

